Recall — GCSE Flashcards
🏛️ GCSE Citizenship Studies Flashcards
Politics, rights and democracy — 10 free revision cards. Study them below, or add the whole deck to Recall and let FSRS spaced repetition schedule your revision so it actually sticks.
What are the three branches of UK government?
1. Legislature — makes laws (Parliament: Commons + Lords)
2. Executive — runs government (PM + Cabinet)
3. Judiciary — interprets and applies law (courts, Supreme Court)
Separation of powers prevents abuse.
2. Executive — runs government (PM + Cabinet)
3. Judiciary — interprets and applies law (courts, Supreme Court)
Separation of powers prevents abuse.
How does First Past The Post work?
UK general elections system. The country is divided into 650 constituencies. In each, the candidate with the most votes wins (even without a majority).
The party with the most MPs typically forms the government. Pros: simple, decisive. Cons: votes "wasted", not proportional.
The party with the most MPs typically forms the government. Pros: simple, decisive. Cons: votes "wasted", not proportional.
What is the rule of law?
Everyone is subject to the law, including the government. No one is above it.
Key features: laws are clear, fair, publicly known, applied equally, enforced by independent courts. A pillar of democracy.
Key features: laws are clear, fair, publicly known, applied equally, enforced by independent courts. A pillar of democracy.
What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?
Criminal law: offences against the state. State prosecutes. Punishment: prison, fines. Standard: "beyond reasonable doubt".
Civil law: disputes between individuals/organisations (contracts, divorce, negligence). Remedy: compensation, injunction. Standard: "balance of probabilities".
Civil law: disputes between individuals/organisations (contracts, divorce, negligence). Remedy: compensation, injunction. Standard: "balance of probabilities".
What is the Human Rights Act 1998?
UK law incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into UK law.
Key rights: right to life, freedom from torture, fair trial, privacy, free speech, free assembly. Public bodies must act compatibly with these rights.
Key rights: right to life, freedom from torture, fair trial, privacy, free speech, free assembly. Public bodies must act compatibly with these rights.
What does the UN Security Council do?
Maintains international peace and security.
Has 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) each with a veto, plus 10 rotating members. Can authorise sanctions, peacekeeping, military intervention.
Has 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) each with a veto, plus 10 rotating members. Can authorise sanctions, peacekeeping, military intervention.
What is a pressure group? Give 2 types.
An organised group that tries to influence government policy without seeking to form a government themselves.
Insider groups: consulted by government (e.g. BMA, CBI).
Outsider groups: work outside official channels via protest, media (e.g. Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion).
Insider groups: consulted by government (e.g. BMA, CBI).
Outsider groups: work outside official channels via protest, media (e.g. Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion).
What is devolution in the UK?
Transfer of some powers from the UK Parliament to regional legislatures.
- Scotland — Scottish Parliament (since 1999)
- Wales — Senedd Cymru
- Northern Ireland — Stormont
They control areas like education, health, transport. Westminster keeps "reserved powers" (defence, foreign affairs).
- Scotland — Scottish Parliament (since 1999)
- Wales — Senedd Cymru
- Northern Ireland — Stormont
They control areas like education, health, transport. Westminster keeps "reserved powers" (defence, foreign affairs).
Name the stages of a Bill becoming an Act of Parliament.
1. First Reading — formal introduction
2. Second Reading — main debate
3. Committee Stage — detailed scrutiny
4. Report Stage — amendments
5. Third Reading — final debate
Repeated in the other House, then Royal Assent.
2. Second Reading — main debate
3. Committee Stage — detailed scrutiny
4. Report Stage — amendments
5. Third Reading — final debate
Repeated in the other House, then Royal Assent.
What does it mean to be a global citizen?
Recognising that we have rights and responsibilities beyond our own nation — towards people, animals and the environment worldwide.
Involves: understanding global issues (climate, poverty, conflict), respecting diversity, acting locally with awareness of global consequences.
Involves: understanding global issues (climate, poverty, conflict), respecting diversity, acting locally with awareness of global consequences.
These 10 cards are a free starter deck — a companion for memorising the core facts, not a complete course. In the Recall app you can also paste your own class notes and have AI build decks for the topics your exam board covers.